OK so it got biffed with a tiny black smudge on the rear bumper in the parking lot. The guy that hit it wanted to replace the whole bumper. I thanked him for biffing it and getting over with. Then I broke a little plastic button on the seat belt making getting the connector a major tit stain.
Nothing ever happens with this car. I mean that in a good way. Everything is even and smooth and quiet. It's weird. You turn the steering wheel and the car just goes that way. It doesn't plow, it's not ass-happy it doesn't fade. It's not ever going to be confused with any sports car but this car is solid and predictable.
It's slightly underpowered if you're a Gran Turismo driving, first car was a TR6 second was a GTi kind of driver. I think for most people it's got plenty of get up and go. I probably should have gone turbo. Next time.
The clutch pedal took a LONG time to get used to. It is a hydraulic pedal mechanism so it is very smooth and even. There are no "pivot points" like in a traditional clutch system. So you can't "feel" anything. This sucks when you are on a hill and want to "hold" the car with the clutch. I finally got used to it.
I can't stress enough how even and predictable this car is. It is truly unnerving to a driver like me. You don't drive ths car so much as suggest things to it.
There are a lot of dirt roads up here for some reason. I drive them often. Witht he whole family in the car and all of them urging me on to greater speed we got into an induced drift (grabbed the hand brake) and within seconds the wheels just found themselves and I was under four wheel power again. I pulled over and asked, "Did you feel that?"
Lynda said, "Yeah that was weird I could feel the different tires gripping."
Danny said, "My butt felt weird."
Sophie screamed, "AGAIN!"
So far so good. It's no Corolla on gas but it's a way better ride.